Alleged Assaults.
W. Maurice Jones, auctioneer, summoned David Evans, Mitre Inn, for assault. Mr Pryce Picton was for the complainant, and Mr William George for the defendant.
Complainant said that he was living at Gallt-felen [I’m assuming Gallt-y-felin, near Llaniestyn], which belonged to the defendant. Defendant came there at complainant’s invitation. After showing defendant over part of the house, they both came out, where Jones said that he was going to give up the tenancy. Evans used very bad language towards Jones. Defendant asked why complainant was leaving the house and complainant said that Mrs Maurice Jones did not get her health there, and that there were noises about the house. He was prepared to let the house and hold the land. But defendant would not have it and called Jones by bad names. Defendant took hold of him and tore a button off complainant’s coat. Complainant called a servant man, as Jones was afraid of defendant doing some harm to him. Defendant took hold of him, hugged and struck him. Jones did nothing to him. He was not going to soil his hands with him.
Cross-examined: They used to be on the best of terms. Did not say that they were troubled by ghosts. Defendant never mentioned anything about ghosts. Complainant did say that they were troubled by noises -inexplicable noises.
Defendant used very strong language. Did not laugh, nor did he kick. Defendant did not fall down. He jumped at me and hugged me, I never saw him on his knees (laughter). He was drunk. I take my oath that he did not fall after anything I did to him. The servant came there at once. He is here to-day. The servant must have seen defendant striking me. He struck me twice; and I felt from it afterwards. He had his coat on his arm, and he had a stick. He did not leave them on the ground. He jumped at me like a madman. He was in drink when I called him in. He was under the influence of drink. But he was capable of doing business. I did not notice any dirt on him before the scuffle. He threw his coat down, and I held my foot in front of him. I wrenched myself from him, tearing off my coat button. I ran away, and he ran after me. The servant came there then. My foot touched his stomach. He had assaulted me before then. I refer you (Mr George) to my solicitor whether I instructed him or not to say that the defendant has been up for assault previously. I refuse to say whether I have been mixed up in a scuffle before. It has nothing to do with the case. I place myself in the hands of my solicitor.
Mr George: Nothing of the sort. You place yourself in the hands of the court.
Complainant: Then I place myself in the hands of the court. I have never been summoned before for any assault. – A long argument followed. – Mr George’s question was ruled that it could not be put. – Mr George asked that his question should be put down. It was, “Have you been concerned before this in a scuffle with a man named John Jones?” – Jones refused to answer it.
Re-examined: I pushed him off with my foot. He was rushing towards me so (imitating him) and I put my foot against him.
Mr George: And you kicked him down against something. –
R.W. Roberts said that he was at Galltfelen on the morning in question. He saw Captain Evans trying to strike Mr Maurice Jones, who told defendant to leave the place. Defendant cursed and swore. Captain Evans would not leave, but said that he would go anywhere he liked. He saw Evans hugging Jones. He did not see Jones hit Evans.
Cross-examined: Did not see Jones kick Evans, Jones ran away from Evans. There were marks on Evan’s knees.
There was a cross-summons issued by Evans against Jones for assault. David Evans said: I am the owner of Alltfelen, and defendant is the tenant. I saw defendant on 14th December. I was perfectly sober. Defendant came to me and invited me to Alltfelen, I went. After we came out of the house, he asked if I would allow him to let the house, because of there being ghosts in th ehouse. I told him there were no ghosts in the 19th century. He repeated that there were ghosts. I called him a liar. He then kicked me till I fell on the ground. He also kicked me on the ground. I had my coat and a stick when kicked. I got my defenders ready. The servant came there in a second.
Cross-examined: It was in consequence of Jones kicking me that I struck him, and not in consequence of what he said to me. He kicked me first. Called me a liar.
Mr George: That’s my case.
Witness: I went away at once when the servant came. I have not been anxious to settle this question.
Re-examined: I believe defendant was anxious to settle the matter. – The bench said that it would have looked well if they had settled it. – He stood on a higher ground than I did. I fell on my knees though he kicked me in front of me. He kicked me three times if not more. There were no bruises. Did not shake him. I was perfectly friendly with him.
Robert Hughes said that he saw Captain Evans coming from Galltfelen. His knees were dirty, and there was dirt on his side. – By the Bench: He was sober as far as I can say. He was as usual, I cannot say that he was under the influence of drink.
Re-examined: Captain Evans looked “stout.” I cannot say that Captain Evans was as sober as I am, because he was very angry on account of the row. Captain Evans told me that Maurice Jones had kicked him. I cannot say if he looked like a devil. When I went to Galltfelen, Mr Jones was in the kitchen. He told me what had happened.
Both cases dismissed, but each party was bound over to keep the peace for six months, in the sum of £20. – There were cheers in the court at the announcement of the verdict.
Caernarvon and Denbigh Herald, 29th December 1893.
Alleged Assault.
W.M. Jones, Pwllheli, summoned David Evans, Mitre Tavern, Pwllheli, for assault. There was a cross summons. Mr Pryce Picton appeared for the complainant, and Mr William George defended.
The Complainant gave evidence, and said that when the defendant asked him for a reason for leaving th ehouse, witness declined to give him one, whereupon the defendant called him bad names, jumped to him, shook him by the throat, and struck him hard on the back of the head. Witness called for his servant man. He did tell him that if he did commence on him, he would give him the best beating he had ever had in his life. Defendant was most abusive, cursing and swearing, and was in drink. Up to that time they were on the best of terms.
Cross-examined: Did you say you left on account of “ghosts?” (laughter).
Witness: No.
Mr B.T. Ellis: Are there such things as ghosts?
Witness: I didn’t say it was a ghost. I never saw a ghost there. The only thing I said was that we were troubled with unexplainable noises.
Witness, proceeding, said that he did not kick the defendant. Witness knew he was in drink when he called him in between nine and ten o’clock in the morning.
Witness(re-examined): said he did not kick the defendant in the stomach, but he pushed him back with his foot.
Robert William Roberts, a servant in the employ of the complainant, said that his master called for him. He saw defendant getting hold of his master’s coat and trying to strike him. Defendant was cursing. He did not see complainant strike or kick defendant.
Mr George, addressing the Bench, said that his client did call the complainant some ugly names and in consequence Jones kicked him.
David Evans then gave evidence on the cross-summons. He said that on the morning in question he was perfectly sober. Jones told witness there was a ghost in the house. Witness replied that they were living in the 19th century and that there were no ghosts now. Witness called him a liar, and said Jones kicked him until he was reeling on his knees. Then the servant came there and witness went away.
Cross-examined: Witness said he struck Jones in self-defence. He was sure Jones kicked him thrice, if not more.
Robert Hughes proved seeing Captain Evans on the morning in question and telling him what had happened. The captain looked very serious.
The Mayor: After being on his knees? (laughter)
Witness certainly thought Evans was sober, but angry and looking very “stout” (laughter).
The Bench retired, and on their return, the Chairman said they had decided to dismiss both summonses – (hear, hear, in court). At the same time, they wished both parties to be bound over to keep the peace for six months in the sum of £20.
(Mr Carreg did not sit on the above case).
The court was crowded during the hearing of the case.
North Wales Chronicle, 30th December 1893.